Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Byrd: Why I Left the Klan
NewsMax ^ | 3/11/05 | Limbacher

Posted on 03/11/2005 8:11:53 AM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection

Former Ku Klux Klansman Sen. Robert Byrd said Thursday that he decided to leave the anti-black terrorist group in 1946 after becoming a born-again Christian, adding that the only reason he used the "N"-word in a 2001 television interview is because he'd heard black leaders say it.

Asked why he left the Klan, Byrd told Fox News Channel's Alan Colmes, "My wife and I, we're born- again Christians . . . We were baptized in the Old Church Yard at Crab Orchard Baptist Church in 1946 . . . That changed my thinking in many ways."

"Time, reflection, and the teachings of the Bible" helped him cut his ties with the Klan, Byrd said - where he served as Grand Kleagle and was paid $10 a head to recruit like-minded racists who were willing to lynch blacks. Asked why - 55 years after he abandoned the hate-group - he used the "N"-word twice during an interview on "Fox News Sunday," the ex-Klansman explained:

"Well, I have heard many people use it. I have heard black leaders use it. I've heard white leaders use it."

Byrd told Colmes that the racist slur "meant nothing" to him, except to describe someone who was ignorant.

The West Virginia Democrat insisted that he'd always tried "to do the right thing."

But he didn't explain why he decided to lead the filibuster against the 1964 Civil Rights Act, or championed the renaming of the Senate's main office after Georgia Sen. Richard B. Russell, whose chief accomplishment was blocking the passage of anti-lynching legislation in the 1930's and 40's.

Instead Byrd insisted it was time to close the book on the earlier chapters of his life, saying, "I was wrong, as many young men are wrong today, even when they join groups. That's all in the past."


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: West Virginia
KEYWORDS: byrd; byrddroppings; fool; kkk; klan; lyingrats; mydogbilly; nword; oldcoot; senile
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-114 next last
To: mountaineer

Sure sounds like a born again Christian to me.


41 posted on 03/11/2005 8:38:42 AM PST by Sthitch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: mountaineer
Truly born-again, Bible believing Christians do NOT support abortion-on-demand. Period.

Byrd is a liar.

42 posted on 03/11/2005 8:39:03 AM PST by savedbygrace ("No Monday morning quarterback has ever led a team to victory" GW Bush)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: mountaineer
Is Byrd seriously planning on running for re-election in 2006?

My, my, what a tempting target.

A pro-abortion anti-military former KlanKleagle running in the state of West Virginia. He's gonna try to wrap himself in the bacon and slide through one more time.

So go directly at his strength: the bacon. Point out how while he got money into West Virginia to buy a bridge andor two, it was at the cost of West Virginians sending money to Washington to pay for a National Helium Reserve in Texas, a railroad museum in Pennsylvania, and transexual frog research in Poland.

43 posted on 03/11/2005 8:39:13 AM PST by cookcounty (LooneyLibLine: "The ONLY reason for Operation Iraqi FREEDOM was WMD!!" ((repeat til brain is numb))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: cookcounty

Yes, Byrd is planning to run in 2006. He won't leave the Senate, unless it's feet first. The only Pubbie candidate realistically suggested thus far is Shelley Moore Capito, currently our only Republican member of Congress (the others being Democrats Alan B. Mollohan and Nick Joe "The Sheik" Rahall).


44 posted on 03/11/2005 8:44:59 AM PST by mountaineer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection

He did not just support the Klan by showing up once--he blessed ran the thing as the Grand Poobah-Lord High Executioner.


45 posted on 03/11/2005 8:46:03 AM PST by rod1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #46 Removed by Moderator

To: Troublemaker

http://www.uscc.gov/bios/2005bios/05_02_3_4bios/byrd_robert.htm


47 posted on 03/11/2005 8:52:09 AM PST by Eagle of Liberty ("Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind." —Albert Einstein)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection

Sorry to quote Ann Coulter again, but she has these (s***)Byrds pegged. Paraphrasing ('Slander'?), 'For Democrats, when a former Klansman calls the president of the United States a Nazi, that's free speech. When an American calls a United States Senator a former Klansman, that's hate speech.'
Colmes did a good Larry King impression last night: 'Here's another softball, Your Eminence.'


48 posted on 03/11/2005 8:53:36 AM PST by tumblindice (Our Founding Fathers: all conservative gun owners)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: T. Buzzard Trueblood

Quickie Quiz:

Which of the following people used the term "White Ni**er" in Public?

Jimmie (the Greek ) Snyder,Trent Lott, Newt Gingrich, John Tower, Richard Nixon, Earl Butz, Rush Limbaugh

Answer:

None of them, and they all lost their jobs because of "racial insensitivity" or some such nonsense.

A double standard, perhaps?


49 posted on 03/11/2005 8:54:26 AM PST by Zivasmate (" A wise man's heart inclines him to his right, but a fool's heart to his left." - Ecclesiastes 10)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Asked why - 55 years after he abandoned the hate-group - he used the "N"-word twice during an interview on "Fox News Sunday," the ex-Klansman explained:

"Well, I have heard many people use it. I have heard black leaders use it. I've heard white leaders use it."

Oh sure. Blame the victims.

50 posted on 03/11/2005 8:56:47 AM PST by <1/1,000,000th%
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection
"Instead Byrd insisted it was time to close the book on the earlier chapters of his life, saying, "I was wrong, as many young men are wrong today, even when they join groups. That's all in the past."

Oh, and what did he and other Senatorial RATs (Kerry comes to mind), have to say about George Bush's younger indiscretions? Another question: How many blacks lost their lives to the evil actions of KKK members that he recruited? There's a huge difference between supporting a murderous, truly terrorist organization, and having a drinking problem (but the RATs don't get it yet!).

51 posted on 03/11/2005 8:57:00 AM PST by Paulus Invictus (The Grand Kleagle speaks!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection

Right, and I'm Peter Pan--see me fly. (sarc)


52 posted on 03/11/2005 8:58:44 AM PST by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection
"But he didn't explain why he decided to lead the filibuster against the 1964 Civil Rights Act....

Not too convincing. Sorry.

53 posted on 03/11/2005 9:00:53 AM PST by nightdriver
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection

The time is way past for this self-aggrandizing old fool. He should have been wearing a plaid jacket and shuffling along at the dog track a long time ago.


54 posted on 03/11/2005 9:00:54 AM PST by Pharmboy ("Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection

He said he was wrong. He attributes his changed attitude to becoming Christian.

That's good enough for me. KKK is no longer an issue for Sen Byrd.

Now about policy.........


55 posted on 03/11/2005 9:02:46 AM PST by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tkathy

What's at issue here is the tendency of government and "educated" people to declare certain words offensive, and punish those who use them.

The "n" word is now too highly charged to be used in most situations without risk of offending, but it was not always so.

Undercut and defang the people who think they can legislate and dictate our language.


56 posted on 03/11/2005 9:05:27 AM PST by Tax Government (Boycott and defeat the Legacy Media. Become a monthly contributor to FR.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection

Byrd: Why I Left the Klan

Because it wasn't politically popular anymore.


57 posted on 03/11/2005 9:06:22 AM PST by antiRepublicrat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection
You know you're on the wrong side when your mouthpiece is an ancient terrorist (Yes, I consider the KKK to be a terror organization) who can't help but make a fool of himself on a regular basis.

Byrd and Arafat have a lot in common, I can't wait until they have even more in common. Maybe then, the palesti....er...democrats will move into the 21st century.
58 posted on 03/11/2005 9:06:47 AM PST by Dr.Zoidberg (This tagline brought to you by Islam. Islam, only the best of the 12th century for you and yours.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: antiRepublicrat
You get the Nail-On-The-Head award for today.

Byrdbrain is a man who is wholly unqualified to do anything in private life that would earn him the money, power, and perks he now enjoys as a Senator. Even with a Senate pension, he'd lose the perks and adulation common to that class. Thus, he will literally say and do anything at all to remain in his position, even things he absolutely doesn't believe in personally.

He is a reprehensible human being, and his continued presence in the Senate is a herpes sore for his home state, and the nation.

59 posted on 03/11/2005 9:15:26 AM PST by Long Cut ("Looks like meat's back on the menu, Boys!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: the gillman@blacklagoon.com

When he was involved with the Klan, no doubt they were primarily a social organization that promoted good horsemanship, camping skills, innovative fashion, and night-time shooting competitions. The whole racism thing was a turn-off, though, so eventually they parted ways...


60 posted on 03/11/2005 9:17:17 AM PST by gridlock (ELIMINATE PERVERSE INCENTIVES)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-114 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson